County Dishes Out Ok For Dinner At Chatham's Place

April 26, 1990|By Will Wellons of The Sentinel Staff

The fuss over Chatham's Place, one of southwest Orange County's favorite restaurants, ended quietly this week.

County commissioners Monday approved limited commercial zoning for the Dr. Phillips Place office center. The change will allow the small 68-seat restaurant nestled in the back corner of the office center to stay open for dinner.

The approval, based on a unanimous planning and zoning board recommendation, came without discussion.

Bettye Chatham, who runs the nationally acclaimed restaurant with her two sons, Randolph and Louis, said she was relieved the 10-month battle with county zoning is over.

''We are excited to be staying in business,'' Chatham said. ''We are very pleased that logical minds prevailed.''

Chatham's Place ran into trouble because the gourmet restaurant was serving dinner after normal business hours. County zoning director Sharon Smith said that was violating the intent of a special exception that allowed the restaurant to operate in an office center.

The county staff did not have a problem with the restaurant's location until County Commissioner Vera Carter questioned the zoning.

The county originally wanted to limit hours and prohibit alcohol sales. Bettye Chatham said that would have forced her out of business. The commission later agreed to let the office center seek a rezoning to end the dispute.

Hundreds of patrons signed petitions urging the commission to leave the restaurant alone.

Chatham's Place made a name for itself when it opened in 1987 as the Fifth Avenue Deli in Windermere. It moved in August because its Windermere location was too small. Food critics nationwide have proclaimed Chatham's Place one of Central Florida's best restaurants.